Journalling: Why you should do it

How 5 minutes a day could lead to greater mental clarity, focus and help you get in touch with yourself.

What do some of the greatest creative thinkers and leaders, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Marcus Aurelius, Ben Franklin, Richard Branson, and Albert Einstein have in common? They all had the habit of chronicling their thoughts and the events of their lives in a journal, and it was a habit that helped them become visionaries in their respective fields. In this article, I want to explore the benefits of keeping a journal, and how one can set up a journalling practice in their daily routine.

Benefits:

There are numerous benefits of journaling, and a few of them include:

1. Introspection and reflection: A daily journaling practice is a great way to review your day at the end of each day. What were the events of that day? What did you spend your time doing? What was your mental and emotional state during the day? When answered daily, these questions can help you live a life that is much more aligned with your core values. After a while, reading what you have written can help you identify patterns of behavior that are not working for you, relationships that need work, or life choices that were out of alignment, and make the necessary changes.
2. Processing difficult emotions: As we go through life, we all have our share of ups and downs, and many unexpected twists and turns. We face various challenges at work, in our relationships, with our health, and our finances. A lot of these challenges take a toll on our happiness and peace of mind, and unless we find a way to process these emotions healthily, they can have very harmful effects on our sense of well-being in life. A journal can be your best friend, as it “listens” to you without judgment. You can pour out your thoughts and emotions into it, and the process of writing down what’s happening in your mind has the beautiful effect of resolving them. You can find clarity and peace in the midst of challenging times, simply by putting what’s on your mind onto paper.
3. Creative problem solving: Ever had this feeling where you were working through a complicated problem, in school, or at work, or in personal life, and you had a flash of insight when you were in the shower, or while you were out on a walk in a park? Our creative minds work really well when we are in a relaxed state of mind, and keeping a pocket journal to note down your creative ideas as they arise in your mind can help you blast through any creative blocks you have in different areas of your life.
4. Planning: Journalling is a great way to brainstorm and plan through long-term goals — for example, if you are trying to lose weight, or start a business of your own. You can use journalling to establish timelines, come up with a plan to hit your goals, anticipate any obstacles, and track your progress as you work towards your goals. It is a great way to check-in with yourself during your journey.
5. Gratitude: Various studies have indicated that the process of actively identifying the gifts in our life primes our minds to be happier in the long term. Our minds have an inbuilt negativity bias, meaning that we are much more like to pay attention to what is missing, or not working in our life than to what we have. Keeping a journal, where you regularly identify what you are grateful for in your life makes you happier, and more likely to appreciate your life.

How to start a journaling practice:

Set a time every day, so sit down and write for an uninterrupted 5–10 minutes. This is your chance to truly sit down and connect with yourself — so get excited! You can write about anything you want, from recent events in your life, to problems you are dealing with, to your dreams and aspirations, or simply list things you are grateful for in your life. The key here is consistency and finding a style that works for you. Just taking time out every day to connect with yourself, and check in with yourself can create dramatic improvements in your mental health, relationships, and living a life that is much more in alignment with your core values.

All right, folks, that’s it for today! Let me know your thoughts, comments, and questions in the comments below, and give me a few claps if you like my article!